I watched Apple’s iPhone 16 event this week and knew I’d be upgrading within 15 minutes of the iPhone 16 Pro Max segment. A piece of my phone technology that I can’t go anywhere without; As a full-time digital nomad, I work remotely from all over the world, so I rely on a robust smartphone not only to stay in touch with family and friends, but also to watch entertainment, read books, manage travel logistics, and run errands. my profession
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There are times when I’m on a bus or plane for hours (or worse, (like being stuck in an airport terminal) still need to work, so a more souped-up smartphone like the iPhone Pro Max line suits me better. Although I already have an iPhone 15 Pro Max that I bought last year while living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the longer battery life, better camera and slightly larger display convinced me to trade up again.
Other users agree on these possibilities. In a survey of smartphone shoppers conducted by CNET earlier this month, respondents cited longer battery life, more storage, and better camera features as the biggest factors for upgrading their phone (61%, 46%, and 38%, respectively).
Apple’s Glowtime event seemed to focus more on these improvements than on AI features like Apple Intelligence, and I preferred the focus on practical improvements rather than AI hype. Here are four reasons why I’m upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is available for pre-order now and will be officially released on September 20.
New camera control button
A separate camera control button would make my selfie game easier.
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max’s main camera is 48 megapixels and can shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second (which is new for the iPhone), but what got me even more excited was the new camera control button. When I saw the new button’s functions being shown off, I thought about how easy it would be to take selfies on the go, like I did recently at the Paris Olympics. My next travel destination is Mt.Fuji in Japan.
As CNET’s Corinne Reichert explained, the button “resembles a side fingerprint reader” and is slightly indented. Pressing the button will open the camera app, and additional presses or swipes of your finger will let you switch between different settings. It’s handy for perfecting a shot called the Travel Selfie Gold while your arm is outstretched without having to reset multiple times.
Improved battery life
I use tech devices on my travels to stay connected and get work done. External battery chargers and power banks help ensure I don’t run out of juice (if I forget to charge the charger, which has happened before), but sometimes travel days stretch in ways I can’t plan for. I do a lot of FaceTime with my kids and don’t want to ration those opportunities because of battery life.
iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life was only mentioned briefly, but it was enough for me to examine the specs. Apple claims the battery will last up to33 hoursofVideo playback, up to 29 hours of streamed video playback and 105 hours of audio playback. Apple’s new model features 25W MagSafe fast charging, which wirelessly charges the phone up to 50% in 30 minutes. I’d like to test this myself to make sure, but it looks promising.
Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence
I’m not a big AI user, so Apple’s integration of AI into a device I already interact with on a daily basis would help someone like me become familiar with the technology. To be clear, Apple Intelligence features will be part of iOS 18 on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, which are currently available as a developer beta and will be officially released later this month.
I’m really excited about Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature, which uses AI to recognize things around you. Despite the language barriers at first, it is very helpful when traveling abroad and having to discover things I am not familiar with; Apple says that the Visual Intelligence feature will only work in English by the end of this year, and will expand to other languages in 2025.
Since I create a lot of emails, social media posts, and article drafts, I’m excited about Apple Intelligence’s writing and editing tools, so it’s easy to have those features on my iPhone. I could also see myself getting a lot of use out of the AI image finding function. (Like many people, I have thousands of photos on my phone.) I’m also looking forward to a Siri upgrade that will get the gist of what you’re saying if you mumble through a voice command.
A rundown of iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max features as shown during the Glowtime event.
Bigger screen, better durability
The iPhone 15 Pro Max I currently own has a 6.7-inch screen, which is a good size. I like that the new iPhone 16 Pro Max has both a slightly larger 6.9-inch screen and thinner bezels (the angled borders on the front of your phone that aren’t part of the screen). The thin bezels make the screen even bigger when I’m watching movies, making video calls, and reading books.
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max case is made with a ceramic shield. Apple says the material is “grade-five titanium,” which I’m not entirely familiar with, but I know the material is less scratchy, which I’m more familiar with. I’ve dropped my iPhone more than a few times while scrambling to catch a train or flight, so the extra protection comes in handy.
iPhone 16 Pro Max is perfect for me
I think the iPhone 16 Pro Max will improve my daily life as a digital nomad and business owner. It’s a challenging lifestyle at times, but it’s worth it to have adventures and document new experiences.
